Sweetgum for stacking pallets

[DocGP]

I have been reading all I can before arrival of the LT35 and really like the idea of the stacking pallets.  I have a ton of sweetgum (like hundreds of them in the 12-16" range) and was wondering if they would make acceptable pallets??  I know they are crap for wood, but any experience as pallets?  Probably not good if ground contact.  My initial stacking will be a 24X24 concrete slab.  

Also, do you strap or weight the top of the stack?  

Thanks
Doc

[Tom King]

There are several pallet manufacturers around here.  They use most of the Sweet Gum, and are the only buyers I know of that will pay anything for Sweet Gum logs. I always thought that was the only thing Sweet Gum was good for.

The last wood we sold was from thinning a stand.  The Pine brought 15.25 a ton, and the Sweet Gum one dollar a ton, but that was all small stuff.

[Banjo picker]

Sweetgum makes cross ties, and you got the right size for em.  Find you a tie yard.  Tim

[Southside]

Don't be all hatin' on gum.  It can be quite beautiful with the heart wood flaming in and out of it.  Quarter sawn it is quite stable and about as tough a wood we have.   Those are a bit small to QS, but if you find some big ones with heart.....$$$  

[YellowHammer]

Sweet gum makes fine pallet stock.  However, big sweet gum is selling for 50 cents per bdft for cross ties which is about the price of red oak.  

[Woodpecker52]

I have cut sweetgum boards for siding no problems.  Had them for 40 years on side of shed no problems with rot or bow etc.  I rate them up there with yellow poplar to use.  Elm was another animal boards would bow but thick stock would not split.

[ladylake]

There are several pallet manufacturers around here.  They use most of the Sweet Gum, and are the only buyers I know of that will pay anything for Sweet Gum logs. I always thought that was the only thing Sweet Gum was good for.

The last wood we sold was from thinning a stand.  The Pine brought 15.25 a ton, and the Sweet Gum one dollar a ton, but that was all small stuff.

 A $1 a ton wouldn't pay for trucking or even loading it if they picked it up.   Steve

[A-z farmer]

Docgp 
I have made pallets out of ash,oak,ewp,spruce,elm,and poplar.I have learned from the members here you use what you have available.My grandfather said poplar was only good for pulp and I have learned he was wrong .I put a preservative on all pallets even though I store them inside on a cement floor .

[farmfromkansas]

The school shop used to have gum boards available, as a low cost wood.  Also, a shop near here made trim from gum, which was very good looking for finishing out a house.  Once in a while, the base would go crooked.

[Tom King]

There are several pallet manufacturers around here.  They use most of the Sweet Gum, and are the only buyers I know of that will pay anything for Sweet Gum logs. I always thought that was the only thing Sweet Gum was good for.

The last wood we sold was from thinning a stand.  The Pine brought 15.25 a ton, and the Sweet Gum one dollar a ton, but that was all small stuff.

A $1 a ton wouldn't pay for trucking or even loading it if they picked it up.   Steve

I'm just growing the trees.  They came and thinned that stand.  That's what the loggers paid me for it. I don't have any idea what they sold it for, but I was glad to have it gone, rather than just left laying here like has been done before.

[Woodpecker52]

Sweetgum was used in the furniture industry, it was even used in gun stocks, it was cut into blocks and used as paving on streets, some London streets were paved with sweet gum blocks from the Ms. Delta.

[DocGP]

You guys have given me hope at least.   I have plenty,  and it will be Good to learn the saw with!

Doc

[kelLOGg]

There are novel ways to cut it, too.
https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?topic=98156.msg1515600#msg1515600